Keg management system for walk-in refrigerators

ABSTRACT

Handling and storage of beer kegs in walk-in coolers used in the food/beverage industry. The invention utilizes a track system with an electric hoist to lift and stack kegs anywhere within the defined beer cooler. The invention is designed to optimize the keg storage footprint and better organize keg rotation. With the optional digital scale, the end user can take the guess work out of calculating partial kegs for precise inventory control.

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/440,863, filed Dec. 30, 2016, pursuant to 35 USC § 119(e).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the handling and storage of beer kegs in walk-in coolers used in the food/beverage industry. Our integrated design utilizes a track system with an electric hoist to lift and stack kegs anywhere within a defined beer cooler. Our Keg Management System, (KMS), is designed to optimize the keg storage footprint and better organize keg rotation. With the optional digital scale, the end user can take the guess work out of calculating partial kegs for precise inventory control.

Another component of this invention is our integrated cantilever shelving system. This system allows for more usable floor space by eliminating the shelf legs that would commonly rest on the walk-in floor. This translates into additional keg storage as well. The walk-in cooler ships from the factory with all the components pre-engineered further reducing installation costs. Our KMS is configurable to virtually any size walk-in to fit our customers' needs, whether it's a Micro-Brewery or on a much larger scale.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, kegs are unloaded from the delivery trucks and wheeled to the walk-in cooler. Once there, the kegs are lifted and stacked manually by multiple people. Our invention is designed to eliminate the physical requirements necessary for keg lifting, storage and inventory control. Our KMS design is intended to be a one-person operation to provide additional labor savings. Half barrel kegs weigh approximately 165 lbs. With the rising cost of health care and work related back injuries, our design utilizes a track system with an electric hoist to lift and stack kegs anywhere within the beer cooler which is integrated into the Nor-Lake walk-in infrastructure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an aspect of the invention to provide a system that will make handling and storing kegs practically effortless. This invention can reduce labor and eliminate back injuries associated with lifting kegs manually. Inventory management can now be precisely controlled with the addition of the digital scale.

It is another aspect of the invention to provide a shelving system that does not extend to the floor. This type of cantilever shelving system will provide additional floor space and make cleanup easier by providing an unobstructed floor surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Elevation view 1 is a view looking at the back wall from the interior.

Elevation view 2 is a view looking at the right-side wall from the interior.

Elevation view 3 is a view looking at the right-side wall from the interior foamed-in-place channels.

Plan view 1 is a view of the cross-beam channels.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the walk-in cooler with the integrated KMS system shown with half barrel kegs.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the shelf supports as they are attached to the vertical struts.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the shelf struts as they attach to the shelf brackets.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the horizontal struts used for the carriage assembly as they are attached to the vertical struts.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the floor anchors used to tie the vertical struts to the cement pad for floorless applications.

FIGS. 6A & 6B are detailed views of the carriage assembly which can travel in all four directions.

FIG. 7 is a detailed view of the carriage tracks and their relationship with the horizontal struts.

FIG. 8 is a detailed view of the roller bearing assembly in relationship to the carriage and horizontal strut.

FIGS. 9A & 9B are detailed views of the guide handle with the control for the hoist and its relationship to the keg.

FIG. 10 is a detailed view of the track system used to run and shield the power cord.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1 where the invention is shown in combination with a Nor-Lake beer cooler manufactured in Hudson, Wis. The framework is comprised of a steel strut design that is bolted together at the junctions of the ceiling, shelves and floor.

FIG. 1 illustrates a walk-in with a super floor but this invention is also offered in a floorless version with anchor supports attached to a cement pad. Either method provides a very rigid structure for overhead lifting and keg storage.

Elevation view 1 is a view looking at the back wall from the interior to illustrate the connection points at the ceiling, shelf brackets and floor brackets. This view also provides a general look of the carriage/track assembly and its relationship with the horizontal struts.

Elevation view 2 is a view looking at the right side from the interior. This is another view of the carriage/track assembly and carriage bearings with relationship to the horizontal struts.

Elevation view 3 is another view at the right side from the interior illustrating the foamed-in-place vertical structural supports and the relationship to the shelf brackets.

Plan view 1 is a view detailing the ceiling supports and their relationship to the integrated wall struts.

The vertical struts are foamed in-place within the 4″ thick walk-in wall panels. The walk-in panels are locked together with a cam-lock/strike method most commonly used in this type of industry. Once the walk-in panels are all locked together and the walk-in box is erected, the ceiling struts are then bolted to the foamed in-place vertical wall struts as referenced in FIG. 4.

The floor supports are then bolted to the above mentioned vertical struts and anchored to the cement pad as illustrated in FIG. 5. This completes the integrated support system necessary to carry the required load.

Next, the shelf supports are then bolted to the vertical wall struts through cutouts in the panels as illustrated in FIG. 2. The horizontal shelving struts are then bolted to the shelf brackets as referenced in FIG. 3 forming the actual shelf. This procedure is repeated until all the shelving struts are securely bolted to the 18″ or 36″ brackets. The shelf bracket size depends on the application.

The carriage tracks are then bolted to the horizontal struts as referenced in FIG. 7. Two sets of tracks are utilized for the carriage/lift assembly, which enables it to travel in all four directions while evenly distributing the design load. Next the carriage roller bearing assembly is slid into carriage tracks as referenced in FIG. 8. Also reference FIGS. 6A & 6B for a detailed view of the carriage bearing assembly. The hoist can now be attached with the pivot pin.

Power is routed through aluminum channels and protected by a plastic chain link system specifically designed for this purpose as illustrated in FIG. 10. With this method, power is supplied in all four directions to the hoist and LED light. It is critical to protect the power cord from pinch points and rough edges as the carriage travels to all parts of the walk-in cooler.

Once the carriage assembly is complete, the optional keg handlebar guide can then be attached to the hook on the hoist chain.

Reference FIGS. 9A and 9B for detailed views of the keg handlebar guide. This device provides additional mobility and ease of use to the end user.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, other versions are readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the preferred embodiments contained herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A keg management system for handling and storing beer kegs in a walk-in cooler having a cuboid shape wherein said cooler is used in the food/beverage industry, and wherein said cooler having a back wall defining a width, said cooler also having left and right-side walls defining a length, and wherein said cooler also having a height, and finally said cooler having a top and bottom walls wherein said cooler is formed from foam panels locked together, said keg management system comprising: a steel framework that is bolted together within said walk-in cooler and integrated with said foamed panels locked together; and an integrated cantilever shelving system for storing the beer kegs thereon wherein said integrated cantilever shelving system is supported by a plurality of shelf brackets attached to said steel framework such that said shelving system does not require legs for support that extend to the floor wall for support; and a carriage lift assembly that is electrically powered; and two sets of carriage tracks are provided, bolted to said framework adjacent to the top wall of said cooler such that said carriage lift assembly which is moveably attached to said carriage tracks such that said carriage lift assembly wherein said carriage lift assembly is able to move in all four directions while evenly distributing the load of each beer keg as it is being moved to its position on said cantilevered shelf; and a carriage roller bearing assembly which moveably attaches said carriage lift assembly to said carriage tracks wherein each beer keg can be placed in position of predetermined spot on one of said cantilevered shelves by a single operator.
 2. The keg management system of claim 1 wherein said carriage lift assembly further comprises a keg handlebar which provides increased mobility and ease of use for said user.
 3. The keg management system of claim 1 further comprising aluminum channels attached to said framework and a plastic chain link system to protect a power cord that is proving electrical power to said carriage lift assembly while it is moving throughout said cooler.
 4. The keg management system of claim 1 further comprising a digital scale in communication with said carriage lift assembly such that the weight of a beer keg being lifted can be determined so the amount of beer being stored can be known even if some kegs are only partially filled. 